Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Will Buy Five Patrol Vehicles
By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office will be purchasing five new patrol vehicles from their 2022 budget.
At the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Oct. 26, KCSO Chief Deputy Shane Bucher told commissioners that KCSO plans to purchase all five vehicles locally, from two auto dealerships.
Bucher recommended purchasing three vehicles at the cost of $35,440 each from Rice Ford and two of the same type of vehicle from Kerlin Motors for $35,474 each since the vehicles are identical and there was a difference of less than $40 between the two bids.
Commissioners accepted the recommendation.
Commissioners also authorized Bucher’s request to apply for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $322,500 to be used for the purchase of new radios that would be more compatible with the new radio system being implemented by the county.
The JAG program provides state and local units of government with funding for a range of programs, including law enforcement and technology improvement.
In addition, Bucher received approval to apply for the 2022 CHIRP grant, which involves Operation Belt Up in the amount of $3,000; Program Click It to Live It for $30,000; and DUITF Operating While Intoxicated in the amount of $22,500.
In another matter, County Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty asked commissioners to okay an unofficial detour route. Moriarty said the Indiana Department of Transportation will be replacing two small structures on SR 14, one being in Silver Lake and the other being just west of CR 100E.
“I’d like to have Peru Road south to CR 1200S and then Packerton Road to CR 1200S be the unofficial detour,” Moriarty said.
Commissioners approved the request.
Jeff Strombeck’s petition to rezone 20 acres from agricultural to commercial along the north side of CR 500N (also known as Armstrong Road) near the intersection with SR 13 on the northwest corner in Tippecanoe Township was approved by commissioners.
Attorney Steve Snyder, who represented Strombeck, said a potential purchaser of the property wants to put some type of retail business along Armstrong Road.
Commissioners also supported a petition to have a utility easement vacated in another matter.
The Ridenour family petitioned to have a NIPSCO gas line vacated on lot No. 7 in the Cripplegate Crossing subdivision in Plain Township near Oswego Lake. Area Plan Director Dan Richard said the Area Plan Commission voted in favor of the vacation.
Snyder, representing Colin & Brooke Ridenour, said the property was recently purchased and the owner wants to be able to use all available space to build on a hillside. He said the owners of lots 5 and 6 are in favor of the petition.
In other news:
- Commissioners approved a 2022 contract for legal services with County Attorney Ed Ormsby in the amount of $60,320.
- A 2022 Inter-local Agreement for terminal services data was approved.
- County Auditor Michelle Puckett presented two items: 2022 Non-profit budget agreements and 2022 inter-local agreements granting permission for the county auditor to act as controller for Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission (KCCRVC) and the county Solid Waste District. Both were approved.
- The next regular meeting will be 9 a.m. Nov. 9.